Chapter Summaries

Nie Yun defeated the Glazed Pagoda's elders and forced the Tower Master to answer questions about the Qianxue Imperial Family. He demanded that they swear loyalty to him, leaving their choice under threat of his Territory Map.

• The Glazed Pagoda's elders joined forces in the Big Dipper Formation, but Nie Yun blocked their attack with his Territory Map and forced them to their knees.
• The Tower Master admitted that she would have attacked Nie Yun if he had been weaker, and he halted the Territory Map while demanding answers.
• The Tower Master explained the Glazed Pagoda's bitter history with the Qianxue Imperial Family and described the imperial city's defenses and the Qianxue Emperor's strength.
• When the Tower Master could not explain how Nie Yun might meet the Qianxue Emperor, Nie Yun ordered the Glazed Pagoda's leaders to swear loyalty to him or die.

Nie Yun forced the Glazed Pagoda’s Tower Master, elders, and Yue Wu to submit to him, then revealed his plan to seize the Qianxue Dragon Seal. He learned that Prince Fu Jiang had disappeared from Tower Forest and prepared to act.

• Nie Yun killed an elder who opposed him, and Rou Ji persuaded the others to submit.
• Nie Yun promised to heal Yue Wu and help her advance, then revealed a Ruler Divine Weapon that convinced the Tower Master to surrender.
• The Glazed Pagoda group offered their souls to Nie Yun, who healed Yue Wu and had her submit as well.
• Nie Yun told his new servants that he planned to take the Qianxue Dragon Seal by force.
• Nie Yun ordered Yue Wu to find Prince Fu Jiang, but she reported that he had disappeared from Tower Forest.

Nie Yun planned to use Prince Fu Jiang’s escape to lure the Qianxue Emperor away from the Imperial Palace and seize the Qianxue Dragon Seal, while guarding against the dynasty’s hidden Ruler-level ancestor. As he sent Rou Ji to prepare a way into the Qianxue Imperial City, Gu Du Yan Jun, the Liuli City Lord, arrived requesting an audience with the genius who had reached the Glazed Pagoda’s eighteenth floor.

• Nie Yun revealed that his escaped attendant was Prince Fu Jiang and explained that he wanted the prince to spread news of the Dragon Seal theft and draw out the Qianxue Emperor.
• The Pagoda Lord warned that the Qianxue Imperial Palace was heavily guarded, and Nie Yun said the Emperor would be tempted by the Asura King’s reincarnation.
• The Pagoda Lord identified the Qianxue Dynasty’s Ruler Divine Weapon as the soul-defending Golden Heart Shield, and Nie Yun explained that he had secretly placed a Heavenly Heart Vine in Fu Jiang.
• Nie Yun ordered Rou Ji and the others to buy a residence near the Qianxue Imperial City’s gate and arrange for him to pass through without inspection.
• Gu Du Yan Jun arrived at the Glazed Pagoda and requested an audience with the genius who had reached its eighteenth floor.

The Pagoda Master and Ru Xiang explained why Dugu Yanjun, the powerful Heartless Snake City Lord, threatened the Glazed Pagoda and its people. Nie Yun refused Dugu Yanjun’s demand to visit the City Lord’s Mansion, and their battle began with Nie Yun trapped in Dugu Yanjun’s overwhelming assault.

• The Pagoda Master told Nie Yun that Dugu Yanjun was a Minor Triple Stage Half-step Ruler whose strength made the Glazed Pagoda’s Charm Cultivation dangerous and ineffective against him.
• Ru Xiang revealed that Dugu Yanjun had already devoured more than a dozen Glazed Pagoda members to gain power, and the Pagoda Master suspected he had come for Nie Yun.
• Nie Yun used his Heavenly Eye to discover that Dugu Yanjun had concealed soldiers around the pagoda to form a Formation.
• Dugu Yanjun arrived and demanded that Nie Yun go to the City Lord’s Mansion, but Nie Yun refused and challenged him to force the matter.
• Dugu Yanjun attacked with Boundless Great Dao, but Nie Yun swallowed the move with a black hole.
• Dugu Yanjun sealed the surrounding space with his snake-like power and struck at Nie Yun, who remained motionless as a fissure pierced toward his brow.

Nie Yun defeated Dugu Yanjun’s Myriad Souls Annihilation Formation by secretly using the Heavenly Heart Vine to drain the hidden soldiers who powered it. With the formation gone and Dugu Yanjun badly shaken, Nie Yun remained poised to face him.

• Yue Wu and the others panicked when Dugu Yanjun immobilized Nie Yun, but the Pagoda Master reassured them that Nie Yun was holding back.
• Nie Yun broke free, severed Dugu Yanjun’s snake-like attacks, and burned his arms until Dugu Yanjun cut them off to survive.
• Dugu Yanjun activated the Myriad Souls Annihilation Formation, which sealed the Glazed Pagoda and restored his strength.
• When Dugu Yanjun unleashed the formation’s killing art, the formation vanished and he suffered backlash as its soldiers collapsed into dust.
• Dugu Yanjun discovered that Nie Yun had secretly used the Heavenly Heart Vine to drain the soldiers, and he realized Nie Yun had planned the trap throughout their fight.

Nie Yun pursued Dugu Yanjun to the City Lord's Mansion and destroyed its defenses and the estate with the Territory Map, killing him and strengthening the Heavenly Heart Vine. After returning to the Glazed Pagoda, Nie Yun changed his appearance and approached a drunken young man singing on a hillside, inviting him to drink together.

• Dugu Yanjun fled to the City Lord's Mansion, believing its Nine Heavens Barrier Formation would protect him from Nie Yun.
• Nie Yun brought the Tower Lord and the others to the mansion and crushed its Formation and buildings with the Territory Map, flattening Dugu Yanjun.
• The Heavenly Heart Vine devoured Dugu Yanjun's power and advanced to the sect master level of Two Thousand Nine Hundred Great Daos.
• Nie Yun sent the Tower Lord and the others back to the Glazed Pagoda, then disguised himself and went out alone.
• Nie Yun found a young man reclining on a blue stone, singing and drinking, and invited him to share a drink.

Nie Yun shared Monkey Heart Wine with the mysterious Carefree Immortal, who offered to help him with the Qianxue Dynasty but then vanished. Meanwhile, the Qianxue Emperor learned that Nie Yun sought the Qianxue Dragon Seal and ordered his men to bring him to the imperial capital, just as an urgent messenger arrived.

• Nie Yun exchanged wine with the Carefree Immortal and learned that he knew people in the Qianxue Dynasty.
• Nie Yun refused the Carefree Immortal’s offer to help him obtain what he wanted, and the man vanished without revealing his identity.
• Nie Yun returned to the Glazed Pagoda while Prince Fu Jiang reported to the Qianxue Emperor that Nie Yun had taken his Fu Xu Carries Mountain and intended to steal the Qianxue Dragon Seal.
• The Qianxue Emperor ordered An Xiao and Golden Eagle to go to Liuli City and prevent Nie Yun from escaping, preferably forcing him to the imperial capital.
• A messenger rushed into the hall and warned the Qianxue Emperor that disaster had struck.

After Nie Yun killed Dugu Yanjun, the Qianxue Emperor sent An Xiao and Golden Eagle with a million Imperial Guards to capture him, then rushed toward Liuli City when Fu Jiang died from a Heavenly Heart Vine hidden in his body. Nie Yun met the army outside the city with a force of divine beasts and World Devouring Ants, and the battle began.

• A messenger told the Qianxue Emperor that Nie Yun had destroyed the City Lord's Mansion and killed Dugu Yanjun, while the Emperor learned Nie Yun possessed a Half-step Ruler Divine Weapon.
• The Qianxue Emperor ordered An Xiao and Golden Eagle to surround Liuli City with a million Imperial Guards and drive Nie Yun toward the capital.
• Fu Jiang suddenly died, and the Qianxue Emperor found and burned a Heavenly Heart Vine inside his body before realizing Nie Yun had anticipated his response.
• The Qianxue Emperor grabbed the Qianxue Dragon Seal and flew toward Liuli City to intervene personally.
• Nie Yun left the Glazed Pagoda to confront An Xiao and Golden Eagle's army, sending his divine beasts and World Devouring Ants into battle.
• Golden Eagle charged toward the Myriad Strength King, but a massive stone stele suddenly rumbled through the space in front of him.

Nie Yun fought Golden Eagle and An Xiao, two Half-step Rulers, while his Heavenly Heart Vine clone slaughtered their soldiers before they could form a defensive Formation. Unable to tell which Nie Yun was the original, the two split their attack, and Golden Eagle ambushed the vine-covered figure with a deadly feather strike.

• Golden Eagle and An Xiao joined forces against Nie Yun, but the collision of their attacks left all three injured and tore nearby soldiers into shattered space.
• Golden Eagle ordered his soldiers to form a defensive Formation, but Nie Yun’s Heavenly Heart Vine clone began devouring them and preventing them from assembling.
• An Xiao tried to reach the vine-covered figure, but Nie Yun used the Territory Map to block him; the two enemies then attacked the apparent clone together.
• Nie Yun evaded their combined strike with his Phoenix Wings and countered with the Territory Map, making Golden Eagle and An Xiao question which figure was the original.
• An Xiao engaged Nie Yun while Golden Eagle transformed into a Divine Eagle and launched a sharp feather at the vine-covered figure, aiming to kill the clone.

Nie Yun killed Golden Eagle and An Xiao, using their deaths to advance the Heavenly Heart Vine to Half-step Ruler. The Qianxue Emperor arrived and attacked Nie Yun with the Qianxue Dragon Seal, forcing Nie Yun to slash open space and escape the blow.

• Golden Eagle attacked Nie Yun with Broken Plume, but Nie Yun cut him in half with a Ruler Divine Weapon, and the Heavenly Heart Vine devoured his corpse.
• An Xiao found that his million soldiers had been consumed by the World Devouring Ants and Heavenly Heart Vine, then Nie Yun bound and cornered him.
• The Qianxue Emperor arrived and demanded that Nie Yun release An Xiao, but Nie Yun offered to spare him only in exchange for the Qianxue Dragon Seal.
• Nie Yun refused to yield and killed An Xiao, whose power allowed the Heavenly Heart Vine to break through to Half-step Ruler.
• The Qianxue Emperor attacked with the Qianxue Dragon Seal, and Nie Yun slashed open space to evade the strike.

Nie Yun fought the Qianxue Emperor to seize the Qianxue Dragon Seal, but the Emperor’s overwhelming strength and versatile defensive Ruler Divine Weapon left Nie Yun unable to hurt him. Nie Yun fled, and the Emperor pursued with a crushing strike closing in above him.

• Nie Yun summoned his avatar and used the Territory Map and his Ruler Divine Weapon longsword to attack the Qianxue Emperor, but the Emperor’s holy robe blocked his sword strike and let him counterattack.
• Nie Yun tried to steal the Qianxue Dragon Seal with his Heaven Stealing Talent, but the Emperor’s will inside the seal repelled him.
• Nie Yun continued attacking with his swordsmanship, but the Emperor ignored his blows and repeatedly struck him through the holy robe’s defenses.
• Nie Yun recalled his beasts and avatar, then fought on alone as the Emperor used the Qianxue Dragon Seal to trap him and landed a blow that left him badly injured.
• Nie Yun abandoned his attempt to seize the seal and fled, but the Qianxue Emperor reached after him with a giant hand that pressed down over his head.

Nie Yun escaped the Qianxue Emperor by tricking him into pursuing him toward Qianxue Imperial City, then fleeing into the Chaos Ocean. After reuniting with his clone, he formed two more bodies and sent them to attack the Qianxue Emperor’s territory.

• Nie Yun healed his wounds, pretended he would slaughter the Qianxue Emperor’s descendants, and lured the emperor into chasing him toward Qianxue Imperial City.
• Near the city, Nie Yun changed course and flew into the Chaos Ocean, using his sword to deflect the Qianxue Emperor’s palm and escape.
• The Qianxue Emperor ordered his ministers to search for Nie Yun and vowed to kill him if he returned for the Qianxue Dragon Seal.
• Inside the Chaos Ocean, Nie Yun concluded that taking the Qianxue Dragon Seal would require touching it while it was inactive and storing it away.
• Nie Yun’s returning clone merged with him, allowing him to create two additional bodies, which he sent to attack the Qianxue Emperor’s garrisons and cities with the Heavenly Heart Vine and Territory Map.

Nie Yun infiltrated the Qianxue Imperial City with Rou Ji, the pagoda master, and General Mo Ye’s help, hoping to reach the Qianxue Dragon Seal. After evading an inspection by the Golden Armored Guard, he gathered his companions at a safe residence to explain the next stage of the plan.

• Nie Yun learned that Rou Ji had bewitched General Mo Ye at the eastern gate and traveled there with the pagoda master.
• Nie Yun disguised himself as Yun Tong and used the Great Dao Ring to persuade General Mo Ye to escort them into the city.
• Zhang Xiao and the Golden Armored Guard tried to inspect Nie Yun and the pagoda master, but Nie Yun created a distant disturbance that drew them away.
• Nie Yun entered the city with General Mo Ye and followed Rou Ji to a residence she had checked for danger.
• Nie Yun sent General Mo Ye away and began explaining the next stage of the plan to his companions.

Nie Yun learned that the Qianxue Grand Examination could grant its top three contestants an audience with the Qianxue Emperor, giving him a way into the palace to seize the Qianxue Dragon Seal. He assumed the identity Yun Tong and prepared to enter the examination, which began the next day with the Literary Examination.

• Nie Yun ordered the Myriad Strength King to search Qianxue Imperial City for master-level experts and useful developments, and she spread countless descendants throughout the city.
• The Myriad Strength King discovered that the Qianxue Grand Examination was about to begin and explained that its top three contestants would receive an audience with the Qianxue Emperor.
• Nie Yun decided to enter the examination, whose Literary and Martial tests had secret formats, and ordered Rou Ji to summon General Mo Ye.
• General Mo Ye arranged a flawless identity for Nie Yun as Yun Tong, the surviving heir of the Yun Family of Dayi City, and gave him an examination token.
• Nie Yun learned from the token that the examination began the next day with the Literary Examination.

Nie Yun disguised himself as Yun Tong and prepared an escape plan before attending the Qianxue Grand Examination. At the examination square, he heard rumors about his recent battle and saw that Young Master Yan Chao and Duxun were expected to dominate the rankings.

• Nie Yun altered his appearance with the Art of Disguise, then ordered Myriad Strength King, Mystic Cicada King, and Little Spirit to scout and plan escape routes.
• Nie Yun traveled alone through the Qianxue Imperial City and heard conflicting rumors portraying him as a hero who had challenged the Qianxue Imperial Family.
• Nie Yun reached the floating Qianxue Imperial Palace and examined how the Emperor Dao gave it an imposing presence.
• Nie Yun presented his credential, took his assigned seat in the examination square, and noticed that many young examinees had artificially enhanced cultivation.
• The examinees nearby complained that Young Master Yan Chao and Duxun would likely claim the top places.

Nie Yun learned about the Four Gentlemen of Qianxue before the Literary Examination began, and recognized that the subject tested the relationship between Heaven, Earth, and Man. He began writing an ambiguous theory intended to address the Qianxue Emperor’s pursuit of Rulership.

• Nie Yun heard that Yan Chao, Duxun, Muxuan, and Sima Qiong were Sect Master-level prodigies expected to claim the examination’s top four places.
• Yan Chao sensed Nie Yun’s attention, prompting Nie Yun to take the four competitors more seriously.
• An official used an enormous seal to isolate the examinees, explain the Literary Examination rules, and deliver a Paper Slip bearing three Ancient Chaos characters.
• Nie Yun read the characters as “Heaven, Earth, Man” and inferred that the examination concerned the Qianxue Emperor’s effort to achieve Rulership.
• Nie Yun decided to write an ambiguous theory and set his brush to the Paper Slip, drawing streams of Origin Energy toward him.

During the Qianxue Dynasty’s Literary Examination, Yun Tong’s answer in Ancient Chaos Script triggered Text Ascending Dragon and stunned the Qianxue Emperor and the other candidates. The Emperor ordered Yun Tong to take first place and looked forward to testing his strength in the Martial Examination.

• Young Master Yan Chao recognized the question and confidently began writing, while candidates throughout the examination hall reacted differently to it.
• Characters Producing Zither Music arose from one candidate’s writing, and the Emperor learned that the writer was Yan Chao of the Yan Family.
• Text Producing Fragrance appeared from Sima Qiong’s writing, prompting the Emperor to praise him and consider awarding him one of the top places.
• Golden dragons formed from gathered energy and displayed Ancient Chaos Script, revealing that Yun Tong’s words had produced Text Ascending Dragon.
• A minister reported Yun Tong’s registered background as a descendant of the destroyed Yun Family of Dayi City, and the Emperor ordered him named first in the Literary Examination.
• Sima Qiong and Young Master Yan Chao stopped writing as the spectacle shook the examination hall.

Nie Yun, using the name Yun Tong, was revealed as the Literary Examination champion and the writer of the Text Ascending Dragon. The Martial Examination began with a test of strength using the Spear of the State, and most candidates failed before Nie Yun and the top-ranked contenders were called.

• Zhao Xuan comforted Nie Yun and explained that the Martial Examination had three rounds, though he did not know their exact tests.
• The imperial rankings named Yun Tong first, and Zhao Xuan and the other candidates realized that Nie Yun had written the Text Ascending Dragon.
• The chief examiner announced that the Martial Examination would test strength, the soul, and martial combat, with the first two rounds eliminating candidates.
• The chief examiner introduced the Spear of the State and declared that candidates had to lift it to pass the strength test.
• Tie Ling failed to lift the spear and was eliminated, while the remaining candidates watched as the test continued.
• Mu Xuan, ranked fifth, taunted Nie Yun and stepped onto the platform.

Nie Yun, disguised as Yun Tong, passed the soul test and advanced to the martial combat round after retaliating against Mu Xuan with a powerful spear strike. The chief examiner announced that the final contest would place all fifty survivors on one platform for a day, and the chapter ended as they were told to enter it.

• Mu Xuan used the Spear of the State to send spear aura toward Nie Yun, but the chief examiner dispelled it before anyone was harmed.
• Nie Yun lifted the spear with one hand and struck Mu Xuan in the chest with spear aura, badly wounding him and angering Yan Chao and the others.
• Nie Yun passed the soul test, and the competitors were reduced from one hundred and fifty to fifty.
• The chief examiner announced that the final martial combat would last one day, with competitors free to hide, fight, or form alliances as the Qianxue Emperor selected the top three.
• The chief examiner summoned the concealed competition platform and ordered the fifty survivors to enter.

Nie Yun entered the Formation space and easily eliminated a group of seven contestants who attacked him together. After collecting their weapons, he found himself surrounded by the Four Gentlemen of Qianxue.

• Nie Yun invited Zhao Xuan to team up, but Zhao Xuan refused and fled.
• Nie Yun found a contestant hiding among stones, restrained him, and caused him to be eliminated.
• Seven allied contestants attacked Nie Yun, but his Defense Qi stopped their weapons and he knocked one of them unconscious with a punch.
• Nie Yun struck down the six who tried to flee, eliminating all seven and collecting their peak Chaos Divine Weapons.
• The Four Gentlemen of Qianxue appeared and surrounded Nie Yun from four directions.